Heated ski pole grip

ABSTRACT

A ski pole grip is heated by electrical power or a chemical packet. Electrical power is provided by DC voltage storage batteries and piezoelectric devices. The electrical power passes through a resistive wire in the body of the ski pole grip to heat the body of the grip and thereby heat the hand of the skier. The grip includes a switch is to turn the electrical power on and off. A removable top on the body of the grip allows for replacement of batteries or a chemical packet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to skiing and more particularly to a heated ski pole handle or grip.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] One of the problems faced by skiers is that of cold extremities. The body, when faced with cold, restricts the blood flow to the outer extremities, the hands and feet. It is also much easier to insulate a skier's body than the hands and fingers. Skiers, especially advanced skiers, need to be able to provide fine control over their poles through the use of their hands.

[0003] Thus, skiers continually face the problem of cold hands and fingers. The traditional solution was to utilize thick mittens. However, mittens significantly reduce a skier's control over his poles, and thus are rarely seen on the hands of advanced skiers. Thickly insulated gloves do provide additional warmth, but to a lesser degree than thickly insulated mittens. However, the same problem arises, that of providing sensitive control over poles.

[0004] Another solution has been to provide additional heating within gloves. Two approaches have been seen. In one, a pair of chemicals are mixed that give off heat. In the other, electrical heat is provided within gloves. While an improvement over traditional methods of providing for warm fingers, these approaches still leave room for improvement.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,313 to Delaney discloses a mitten type ski pole attachment that attaches over a ski pole grip. The disclosed attachment provides improved insulation but does not allow the required fine pole control. U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,421 to Adamson discloses a rigid enclosure member over the ski pole grip to protect a skier's hand from injury. The enclosure member also provides insulation and windbreaking, and may include a heating element that is powered by batteries located in the ski pole grip. The disclosed enclosure member does not allow the required fine pole control.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A heated ski pole grip is disclosed. The grip includes an elongated body and means for heating the elongated body. The means for heating may be chemical or electrical. Power for the electrical means for heating is provided by a DC voltage storage battery or by piezoelectric devices in the ski pole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings that bear similar reference numerals in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heated ski pole grip embodying features of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the grip of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is sectional view taken along line 2-2 of an alternative configuration of the grip of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heated ski pole grip 10 embodying features of the present invention includes an elongated body 11 and a heating means 12 for heating the body 11. The body 11 has an exterior surface 14, an interior cavity 15 and a top portion 16. The exterior surface 14 is shaped to be comfortably gripped by a skier. In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior surface 14 has indentations 17 for receiving a skier's fingers. Other configurations are suitable.

[0012] The interior cavity 15 is cylindrical, extending through the body, and has a top end 18 and a bottom end 19. The interior cavity 15 is sized and shaped to receive and snugly fit around the upper end portion of a ski pole shaft 20. The top portion 16 is removably attached to the top of body 11, and extends across and closes the top end 18 of the interior cavity 15. The top portion 16 shown is attached by external threads 22 on the top portion 16 that thread into internal threads 23 in the top end 18 of interior cavity 15. Other known attachment methods, such side sliding and partial turn fastening mechanisms, are also suitable.

[0013] Heating means 12 includes electrically resistive wire 25, an electrical power source 26 connected to wire 25 and an electrical switch 27 connected between wire 25 and source 26. In the illustrated embodiment wire 25 is a single wire in a spiral configuration and is embedded in body 11 near exterior surface 14. Wire 25 may alternatively be a network of wires or a flat heating circuit. Wire 25 is preferably embedded in body 11 beneath exterior surface 14, but also can be applied onto exterior surface 14.

[0014] Power source 26 includes piezoelectric device 30 and DC voltage storage batteries 31. The piezoelectric device 30 is sized and shaped to fit tightly into shaft 20 and converts vibrations and flexure of shaft 20 into electricity. The storage batteries 31 are located in a battery holder 32. The battery holder 32 is tubular with an enclosed lower end 33 and an open upper end 34. The battery holder 32 is sized to fit within the shaft 20 and the upper end 34 of battery holder 32 attaches to the top end 18 of interior cavity 15 of body 11. The storage batteries 31 may be replaced by removal of top portion 16 of body 11.

[0015] The piezoelectric device 30 and the storage batteries 31 are preferably connected in parallel, so that the piezoelectric device 30 can recharge the storage batteries 31 and the storage batteries 31 can provide consistent power to the wire 25. Suitable alternative arrangements for the power source 26 include piezoelectric device 30 alone or storage batteries 31 alone.

[0016] Switch 27 is an on/off switch and is preferably located in top portion 16 of the body 11. Switch 27 may be a push on/push off switch, a rocker switch, a toggle switch or any other suitable type of switch. The switch 27 is electrically connected between the wire 25 and the power source 26, so that a skier may selectively turn the heated ski pole grip 10 on or off. Switch 27 may also include a rheostat or potentiometer to allow the user to regulate the temperature of the heating means 12.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows an alternative heating means 40 for heating the body 11, including an elongated tubular holder 41 and a chemical heat packet 42. Holder 41 has an enclosed lower end 43 and an open upper end 44. The holder 41 is sized to fit within the shaft 20 and the upper end 44 of holder 41 attaches to the top end 18 of interior cavity 15 of body 11. The heat packet 42 is sized to fit into holder 41 and is replaceable by removal of top portion 16 of the body 11. The heat packet 42 contains chemical that give off heat when mixed together. The heat packet 42 is inserted into the holder 41 and mixing is activated to heat the body 11. Holder 41 and body 11 may also be vented to allow oxygen in to packet 42, if heat packet 42 requires oxygen for the chemical reaction.

[0018] Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heated ski pole grip comprising: an elongated body having an exterior surface sized and shaped to receive a skier's hand, an interior cavity having a top end and a bottom end, and a top portion extending across and closing said top end, said interior cavity being sized and shaped to receive the upper end portion of a tubular ski pole through said bottom end, and means for heating said body.
 2. The grip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for heating includes a heat packet located within said interior cavity, said heat packet having at least two chemicals that produce heat when combined.
 3. The grip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for heating includes at least one electrically resistive wire embedded in said body and an electrical power source electrically connected to said wire, whereby electricity from said power source passes through said wire and generates heat in said body.
 4. The grip as set forth in claim 3 wherein said power source includes at least one piezoelectric device, said device being configured to fit within said shaft and generate electricity from flexing of said shaft.
 5. The grip as set forth in claim 3 wherein said power source includes at least one electrical storage battery.
 6. The grip as set forth in claim 5 wherein said top portion is removable, said battery is located in said interior cavity, and said battery is replaceable by removal of said top portion.
 7. The grip as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for heating includes an electrical switch connected between said wire and said power source, said switch electrically connecting and disconnecting electricity to said wire.
 8. The grip as set forth in claim 7 wherein said switch is located in said top portion.
 9. A heated ski pole grip comprising: an elongated body having an exterior surface sized and shaped to receive a skier's hand, an interior cavity having a top end and a bottom end, and a top portion extending across and closing said top end, said interior cavity being sized and shaped to receive the upper end portion of a tubular ski pole through said bottom end, a network of resistive wires embedded in said body, a electrical storage battery located in said interior cavity, and an electrical switch in said top portion, said wires and said battery being electrically connected with regulator being electrically connected therebetween, whereby said regulator regulates heat in said body and switch turns heat on and off in said body. 